guitar body – Rat Bait Guitars

Telecaster Type Body – Barnwood Guitar

Telecaster Guitar Body – Routed for Standard Tele Hardware

Handcrafted by Rat Bait Guitars | October 2025 | North Devon

This isn’t just a guitar body—it’s a relic with attitude. Built from salvaged materials and shaped in a rat-infested shed in North Devon, this Rat Bait original channels the spirit of 1960s–70s Woolworths guitars: quirky, Japanese-made and unapologetically budget-born. Now reborn as a one-off Telecaster-style body, it’s ready to carry your build with soul and scars intact.

Please note: Hardware shown in photos (pickups, neck, etc.) is for example only and not included. This listing is for the body alone.

Materials & Origin

1970s Austrian furniture
Old roofing timber
Sections of an Ikea bookcase
Part of the Rat Bait shed
All reclaimed and reimagined in the UK
Finished with a slight nitrocellulose tint

Specifications

Telecaster-style body
Routed for standard Tele neck pickup and Tele bridge pickup
Approximate thickness: 43mm
Neck pocket width: 56mm
Weight: 2.39kg
Finish: Beeswax and oil – ready for your fettling and final touches

Condition & Character

This body wears its past proudly. Expect visible dents, scratches, nail holes, and even flush-set nail heads—each mark a chapter in its reclaimed story. It’s raw, rugged, and intentionally imperfect. See photos for close-up texture and detail. All measurements are approximate.

Why Choose This Body?

This isn’t a sterile factory blank—it’s a piece of reclaimed history with bite. Ideal for a Partscaster build that values sustainability, individuality, and punk and Barncaster ethos over polish. Whether you’re a luthier or a player chasing tone with character, this body offers a versatile, hardware-ready canvas with grit, soul, and a story to tell.

Stratocaster Style Relic Body

HSH Blue, Black & Red Stratocaster-Style Loaded Guitar Body – Finished by Rat Bait Guitars UK

Turn heads and spark inspiration with this electrifying Stratocaster-style guitar body—an audacious fusion of classic form and punk-infused colour, hand-finished in the UK by Rat Bait Guitars. Whether you’re building a tone monster from scratch or reviving a beloved rig, this loaded body offers a bold foundation that’s as visually striking as it is sonically versatile.

Finish & Aesthetic

A vivid tri-colour palette of blue, black, and red, applied with raw character and subtle nitrocellulose tinting for a lightly aged, organic feel.
Finished in 2024 in Rat Bait Guitars’ shed—part of a unique duo of factory-made bodies, each coloured with care and rebellion.
Clean contours and a sleek surface make this body a standout on stage or in the studio.

Specs & Hardware

HSH routing for maximum pickup flexibility—ideal for humbuckers and single coils alike.
Neck pocket width: approx. 56mm
Body thickness: approx. 43mm
Tremolo system included: springs, screws, arm (white tip, not shown in photos), and rear cover.
Loaded SSS pickguard for instant plug-and-play setup.
Jack plug socket with classic boat-style mount.
Strap buttons installed and ready to rock.

Build Quality & Materials

Likely crafted from basswood or Paulownia—lightweight yet resonant, offering a balanced tonal foundation.
Designed to fit standard Stratocaster necks and hardware configurations.
Minimal signs of wear—this body has been well cared for and is ready for action.

Why It Matters

This isn’t just a replacement part—it’s a statement of intent. Whether you’re a seasoned shredder, a DIY modder, or a newcomer with vision, this body invites experimentation, expression, and sonic exploration. It’s the second of a matched pair, making it a rare find with a story baked into its finish.

Telecaster String Through Guitar Body – 1.99kg

Excellent 1.99kg Telecaster string through body

The body is dense and heavy. Finished in a battle scared high gloss black finish, a fantastic base for a relic DIY Telecaster. Body and string ferules only.

Approx. Neck Pocket Width: 56mm
Approx. Weight: 1.99kg (unloaded weight)
Black
Gloss Finish
String Ferules

Weight 1.99kg. For Scale Length: 25.5″

This Tele style body is routed to take a Humbucker neck pickup and standard Telecaster bridge pickup. This body has been through the wars and has several deep scratches on the rear and a few minor ones on the front. This quality body is perfect to turn into a rugged relic. The wood is described (when purchased by me) as Poplar however it weighs nearly 2kg and therefore could be another denser type.

Road worn and rugged

This gloss black Telecaster type guitar body is perfect for a partscaster build. Made of high-quality wood, it weighs 1.99kg, ideal for any guitar enthusiast or DIY guitar builder. This body is perfect for those who want to upgrade their light bodied guitar or convert their beast into a more reliable string through body instrument. With its sturdy construction and high-quality wood, this Telecaster body is sure to last for years and years to come.

Nashville Tele Style Guitar Body, Nitro Neck

This Nashville Tele Style Guitar Body and Neck (DIY Kit) is truly a unique and sustainable piece!

Made from a variety of salvaged materials, including roofing timber, Exmoor Spruce, and parts from vintage furniture, it has a lot of character and history. The body is finished in beeswax and has a light nitro coat, giving it a rustic and natural look.

The refurbished maple neck, with its 25.5″ scale length and 22 jumbo frets, is designed for comfort and playability. The use of recycled materials not only makes this guitar environmentally friendly but also adds to its unique charm. Rat Bait guitars’ commitment to sustainability is evident in this DIY guitar kit, making it a great choice for eco-conscious musicians.

Nashville Telecaster Type Body made from recycled materials – body weight 1.89kg. Refurbished nitro maple neck. For Scale Length: 25.5″

This handmade body has dents, scratches and is finished in beeswax:

Body made from a salvaged materials
Approx. Thickness: 43mm
Approx. Neck Pocket Width: 56.5mm
Approx. Weight: 1.89kg
Finished in light nitro coat and beeswax
To fit Scale Length – 25.5″

Refurbished Maple Neck from a new guitar:

Scale Length – 25.5″
Frets – 22 jumbo frets
Width at Nut – 42mm
Heel Width – 55.5mm
Tuner holes pre-drilled for 10mm machine heads
Neck Profile – Modern C type
Finish – light nitrocellulose coat / semi-matt

Now, imagine plugging it into an amp, dialing in some sweet tones, and letting your fingers dance across those frets. What genre do you think this guitar would excel in? Blues? Folk? Indie rock? Or perhaps it’s destined to create a whole new sonic universe! 🎸

And hey, have you ever built or customized a guitar yourself? There’s something magical about shaping an instrument to fit your unique style. 🛠️

Yellow Telecaster Style Guitar Body – 2kg

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Telecaster Body – weight 2kg. For Scale Length: 25.5″

This Tele style body is routed to take a standard neck pickup and standard Telecaster bridge pickup.

This body was bought a few years ago but was never used. The paintwork is in near perfect condition and the body is in general good order.

Approx. Thickness: 44mm
Approx. Neck Pocket Width: 57mm
Approx. Weight: 2kg
Yellow finish with black band
Gloss Finish

This is a factory made body and not one I have made.